Roll up, roll up for English football’s next great con trick. Marvel at the brazenness of the Barclays Premier League elite. Laugh at the cravenness of the Football League and the FA. Gasp with amazement as tradition and heritage disappear in front of your eyes and, in a puff of smoke, the rich tapestry of the national game is turned into a magic carpet.

Excuse the cynicism, but the latest proposal from the upper echelons of English football warrants it in bucketloads. Nursery clubs or feeder clubs — think Chelsea B and Manchester City B rising up the Football League, whether